Fluid-controller.



No. 686,9l3l Patented Nov. |9,- I90l.

w. s. SHIELDS.

FLUID conmuuan.

(Application filed Doc. 17, 1900.) (Ila Modal.) 3 Sheets-Shoot I.

No. 686,913. Patented Nov. l9, l90l.

W. S. SHIELDS. I

.FLUID CONTROLLER.

(Application filed Doc. 17, 1900-) (llo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheat 2.

YMl mam: PETERS ca. PHOTO-L\THO.. wnsumuvcu, \zvv c Patented Nov. l9,I90l.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Zwftfwweyw UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. SHIELDS, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 686,913, dated November19, 1901. Application filed December 17,1900. Serial No. 40,146. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. SHIELDS, of Evanston, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fluid Controllers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus in the nature of aliquid-controller and designed for successively charging and dischargingor separately charging or discharging a series of tanks or receptaclesin a certain or desired rotation. An apparatus made in accordance withmy invention is designed to automatically effect such charging anddischarging or separate charging or discharging of tanks or receptaclesin a predetermined rotation, and the apparatus is so constructed andarranged that the operation thereof when begun will continue in definitecycles until the apparatus is adjusted for a different sequence ofrotation or its operation is discontinued.

An apparatus made in accordance with my invention may be employedwherever it is desired to successively charge or discharge a series oftanks or receptacles or charge and discharge the samesuch, for instance,as the filter-bed tanks of a sewage-purifying plant, the settling-tanksof a sedimentary water-pi'irifying system, and many other purposes whichwill suggest themselves to persons familiar with this and analogousarts.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafterset forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of automaticcon-trolling apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the apparatus, showing some of the parts in section. Fig. 3is a transverse section on the indirect line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is afragmentary detail section on line 3 3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a detachedview of some of the parts shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating means forchanging the order of rotation in charging and discharging the tanks.Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The construction herein shown, in which my invention is embodied,embraces, generally, in combination with a series of tanks and inlet andoutlet channels therefor, valves for severally controlling said inletand outlet channels, means common to all of said inlet-valves forseverally opening the same, and means operated by the rise of the liquidin the tanks for separately closing the valves of the inlet-channels andat the same time to severally open the valves of the outletchannels ofthe tanks which have been previously filled. Other means may, however,be employed for discharging the tanks, and my invention may be operatedonly to suecessively fill the tanks in the desired sequence of rotation.Means are also provided for cutting one or more of the tanks out of orbringing the same into communication with the operative series withoutdisturbing the operation of the apparatus as a whole, whereby one ormore of said tanks may remain empty or filled, as desired, for a longerperiod than that afforded in the usual cycle of operation of theapparatus.

As shown in said drawings, five tanks Aare indicated and numbered 1 to 5from left to right. Each of said tanks is provided with an inlet-channelB, which delivers liquid to the tank near the top thereof, and an outletchannel 0, leading from the bottom thereof. The mechanism of thecontrolling apparatus is shown as inclosed by side and end wallsD D,which will preferably be of masonry construction, and the parts of theapparatus are supported upon and in a masonry foundation D as shown inFigs. 2 and'3. The inlet and outlet channels extend from the tanks intothe inclosure, and the outlet-channels of all the tanks are joined to acommon outlet-channel O, which is adapted to lead to a place for thedisposal of the liquid. The'inlet-channels have communication with aconduit B, leading from a source of supply of the liquid to be treated,said conduit being common to all said channels. Passage of liquid fromsaid conduit to each inlet-channel is controlled by a valve E, whichengages a seat formed in the outer end of said channel at the bottom ofthe conduit. Said valves are each pivotally connected to one end of alever F, which latter is pivoted between its ends to a bracket affixedto abeam F, extending transversely of the levers and sustained in theinclosing walls in any suitable manner. The outer or free ends of saidvalve-actuating levers are elevated above the other ends thereof whenthe valves are closed and are located in line with each other andadapted to be severally depressed to lift said inlet-valves by means ofa traveling weight which passes successively from one to the other ofthe levers or in other rotation, as desired. The outer ends of saidlevers are adapted to be lifted after being depressed in the mannerstated to open the inlet-valves and the connected inlet-valves therebyclosed through the medium of floats G, contained within float-chambersG, located one beneath each lever. The outer ends of the valve-actuatinglevers project through openings 9 in the inner walls of thefloat-chambers and are provided within said chambers with pockets F toreceive said traveling weight. Each float-chamber is connected with thetank the inlet-valve of which it is designed to control by means of apipe G opening into the bottom of said chamber and provided with abranch G opening into the chamber at the level of the inlet-pipe B or atother suitable flow-level of the associated tank A. Said pipe and branchare provided with cut-0d valves G and G respectively, one of which isadapted to be open while the other is closed.

The weight herein shown for depressing or ball H, which rolls in a trackor race made up of a plurality of short inclined sections 1, whichextend between the upper ends of the float-chambers G, and a singlelonger section 1, which extends from the float-chamber belonging to thetank No. 5 to that belonging tothe tank No. 1. The shorter sections of.the race or track, as herein shown, are inclined from left to right andhave communication with the interiors of the float-chambers throughopenings g in the side walls of the chambers, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,and the weight passes transversely through the upper ends of saidchambers. As herein shown, said float-chambers are located at the samegeneral level, so that the weight after it has been delivered into eachchamber andhas depressed the associate lever F comes to a rest below thelevel of the section of the race, which directs it to the nextsucceeding chamber. While passing transversely through each chamber,therefore, the weight must be lifted to bring it to the level of thereceiving end of said next succeeding section of the race. Such liftingof the weight is effected by the rising of the float at the time saidfloat raises to elevate the outer end of the lever F to close theinlet-valve E. As herein shown, the weight drops from the pocket of eachlever F upon an upward extension of the float formed at one side of thefloat to receive the weight, so that said float acts to directly raisethe weight. The weight may, however, be otherwise raised. The upper endof the extension of the float is inclined toward the side wall thereofwith which the next succeeding section of the track or race isconnected, so that when the float rises to return the lever to itsposition to close the valve E and the weight thereby lifted to the levelof the next succeeding section of the track said weight will move offsaid float to said section and pass on to the next float-chamber, wherea like operation will be repeated to open and close the inlet-valvesbelonging to the next succeeding tank. The bottom of the pocket F ofeach lever is also inclined toward said extension of the float, as shownin Fig. 3, so that the weight when resting in said pocket tends to movetoward said extended part of the float. In order to prevent the weightfrom immediately passing to its position on the float before time isgiven to actuate the lever F, each chamber is provided with a verticaltransverse partition G which extends at its lower end to or below thelevel of said pocket when the latter is in its upper position. The

longer section of the track or race comprises an unbroken inclined planeand serves to return the weight to the float-chamber belonging to tankNo. 1 after it has passed through all the float-chambers and hasactuated all the valve-levers F. In some instances the float-chambersmay be arranged in a uniform unbroken circuit, in which event the racewill be made up entirely of the shorter sections. the valve-leversconsists of a spherical roller The valve G associated with eachfloatehamber is adapted to be opened when the inlet-valve of itsassociated tank is opened,

, whereby when the liquid in the tank reaches the level of the openingin the float-chamber through which the branch G communicates therewiththe liquid will enter said floatchamber, cause the float to rise and actupon the lever to close the inlet-valve of said tank, and at the sametime cause the traveling weight to be directed to theinlet-valve-actuating mechanism of the next succeeding bed. Furthermore,when the float has thus been lifted and the inlet-valve closed the valveG is adapted to be opened to permit the contents of the chamber to bedrained, so that the float may drop down out of the way of the lever Fin the next succeeding operation thereof and in position to receive theweight after it has next acted upon said lever. As herein shown, saidvalves G and G are actuated from the lever F, said lever being connectedby a jointed connecting-rod F with the actuating-arms of the valves G G,with the former at its lower end and with the latter at its joint. Thenthe outer end of the lever F is depressed, therefore, the valve G isopened and the valve G simultaneously closed, and vice versa. The leversF for operating the inlet-valves have been illustrated merely as oneconvenient means of transmitting motion from the weight to open thevalves; but it is evident that such mechanism may be widely varied, andI do not wish to be limited to the construction illustrated.

The apparatus thus far described constitutes an operative apparatus toautomatically fill the tanks, and such apparatus may for this purpose beemployed alone where the tanks are adapted to be emptied byindependently-actuated means.

The operation herein described embraces automatic discharging meanswhich are operatively connected with the chargingmeans so as to beactuated thereby. Said discharging means and connections are made asfollows: Each of the outlet or drain channels of the tanks is providedwith a controlling-valve. (Shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.) Said valveconsists of an outer casing or pipe J, the lower end of which intersectsthe drainchannel 0 and communicates therewith through an opening j. Saidcasing is provided at its lower end with an annular valveseat j, whichis engaged by a closure formed on the lower end of a stem J, which forthe sake of lightness is made hollow. Said valve is seated by its weightand is adapted to be lifted to open the valve by means of a float K,contained in a float-chamber K, located above the channel 0, theconnection between 4 said stem and float consisting of a radial annularflange 7' which overlaps the upper end of said float. The valve-casing Jextends to the top of said float-chamber to prevent the liquidoverflowing the same. The chambers for controlling the discharge-valvesof the tanks are arranged in a line parallel with the inlet-floatchambers and between the latter and the tanks.

The outlet-chambers have communication with the tanks through pipeconnections as follows: K K Fig. 3, designate a plurality of pipes whichenter the lower ends of said outlet-float chambers and are connected attheir outer ends with a pipe K which extends from one end of the line ofoutlet-float chambers to the other. Said pipe K is connected with eachof the pipes G by a pipe K*, which is controlled by a valve K Theactuatingarm of the valve K is connected with the jointed connecting-rodl5 and therethrough operated when the valve-actuating lever F iselevated or depressed. The valve K is so arranged. as to be opened whenthe valve G is opened, and therefore closed when the valve G is opened.The pipe K is provided with a plurality of hand-actuated cut-0E valves7c, located one between each two adjacent pipes K, and each pipe K isprovided between its associated float-chamber and the pipe K with a likevalve The valves is are normally closed, while the valves in are normally open. When one of the inlet-valveactuating levers F is actuated toopen its connected valve and which at the same time opens the valve Gand closes the valve G the valve K is closed. When the lever ll isactuated to close its valve, the valves G3 and K are opened and thevalve G closed. The opening of the valve K permits the liquid to passfrom the overflow-pipe G through the vertical pipe G the pipe K, and thepipe K to that one of the pipes K? which is open to that particular partof the pipe K and thence to the float-chamber connected with said pipe KThe entrance of the liquid into said chamber causes the float to riseand the outlet-valve controlled thereby to be opened to permit the tankto which said valve belongs to be discharged. As shown herein, thevalves 7a are so arranged that the actuation of the lever F belonging toone of the tanks to close the inlet-valve of said tank operates throughthe mechanism described to open the outlet-valve of the tank next inrear of the tank which has just been charged, and the outlet-valvemechanism belonging to the tank just filled will be actuated todischarge said tank upon the complete filling of the tank next inadvance thereof. With this arrangement during the continuous operationofthe apparatus one tank is always standing filled, the one next in reardischarging, and the one next in advance being filled. This arrangementis due to the fact that the valves is are interposed in the pipe Kbetween the inletfloat chamber of each tank and the outletfloat chamberthereof. Said pipe connections may be arranged, however, to fill anddischarge the tanks in other rotation than herein shown.

The outlet-valve mechanism of tank No. 5 of the series is controlled bythe inlet-valve mechanism of tank No. 1, and it is therefore desirablefor convenience of arrangement that the float-chamber of theoutlet-valve mechanism of tank No. 5 occupy the same relative positionto the inlet-float chamber of tank No. 1 as the outlet-float chambers ofthe other tanks occupy to their actuating float-chambers-to wit, attheleft side thereof. The direction of the outlet-channel C of said lasttank of the series therefore is modified to correspond with the changedlocation of its controlling-valve and actuating mechanism, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the relative 1ocations of the several partsof the apparatus may be greatly varied to suit the requirements of eachparticular instance Without departing from the spirit of the invention.For instance, the outletvalves and actuating mechanism may be located ata greater distance from the inlet-valves and their mechanisms, it onlybeing necessary to preserve the proper connections between said parts bymodifyingthe courses of the connecting-pipes.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole may be briefly stated asfollows: It is assumed that tank No. 2 of the series has just beenfilled and that the float G in the chamber G belonging to theinlet-valve mechanism of said tank has been raised to close the valve ofsaid tank. The raising of said float has caused the weight H to be movedto the next float-chamber in advance belonging to tank No. 3 of theseries, as shown in Fig. 3, said weight having depressed the outer endof the lever F belonging to tank No. 3 and having. been deposited on theupper end of the extension of the float belonging to said tank, as shownin Fig. 2. The depression of the outer end of said lever acts to openthe inlet-valve of tank No. 3, and said tank begins filling from theconduit B. The depression of the lever F also acts to open the valve Gand to close the valves G K. Prior to the closing of the inlet-valve oftank No. 2 tank No. 1 has been standing filled with both inlet andoutlet valves closed. Upon the closing of the inlet-valve of tank No. 2,as aforesaid, the valve G associated with tank No. 2 is" closed andvalves G and K are opened. The opening of said valve K permits theliquid to pass from the pipe G belonging to tank No.2 through pipes G KK and K to the outlet-float chamber of tank No. .1. Said outlet-floatNo. 1 is thereby raised and the outlet-valve actuated thereby unseated,which permits tank No. l to be dis charged. Said valve K belonging totank No. 2 remains open until one complete operation of the apparatus isterminated and the lever F connected therewith again actuated to openthe inlet-valve of said tank No. 2. While the tank No. l is thus beingdischarged tank No. 2 is standing filled and tank No. 3

is being filled. When said tank No. 3is completely filled, the float Gbelonging thereto is elevated to actuate the associated lever F andclose the inlet-valve of said tank. The actuation of the lever Fbelonging to tank No. 3 to close said tank in a like manner beforedescribed actuates the discharge-valve mechanism of tank No. 2 todischarge the latter, and the weight H is advanced to actuate theinlet-valve mechanism of tank No. 4 to open the inlet-valve thereof. Inthe continuous use of the apparatus these operations are repeated .intheir proper rotation until such rotation is varied, as hereinafterexplained, or until the operation of the apparatus is discontinued.

It is desirable in some instances in the use of apparatus of thischaracter to disconnect one or more of the tanks of the series from theother tanks at stated intervals, and said tank or tanks may be thusisolated when empty or filled as occasion may require. .Such isolationof the tanks enables the same to be cleaned or repaired if the tanks beused in a water-settling system or if used to contain the filter-bedof asewagepurifying apparatus permits the required access of the oxygen ofthe air to the beds, which is required for the best results. Forthispurpose means are provided for carrying the traveling weight past one ormore of the inlet-float chambers, and the connecting-pipes between theoutlet-float chambers and in1et-valve mechanism are such that eachinlet-valve mechanism may actuate either of the outlet-valve mechanisms.As one means of directing the weight past one or more of the inlet-floatchambers the inclined sections I of the track or way for the weight Hmay be detachablyconnected with the floatchambers, and when a tank is tobe isolated the two sections of the track connected with the inlet-floatchamber of said tank are removed and supplanted by a longer section 1(shown in Fig. 5,) which bridges between two alternate chambers and cutsout the intermediate chamber. The section may be made longer than shownand cut out two or more tanks. Said intermediate float-chamber, or theone belonging to the tank which it is desired to isolate, is provided atits upper end with an upwardly-opening notch to receive the middleportion of said elongated tracksection 1 In this construction also thepartitions G are removable, said partitions engaging at their side edgesgrooves in the opposite Walls of the chamber, which permit them to beremoved upwardly out of the. chamb'ers. The sections I may be supportedon vertically-shiftable brackets 1 mounted on the outer walls of thefloat-chambers, so as to be depressed out of the way of the longersection I when employed. In order that the tank next in rear of the tankcut out of the series may be emptied by the valve mechanism of thesecond tank in advance thereof, the valve 76 belonging to theoutlet-valve mechanism of the tank which is to remain empty is closedand the adjacent valve 76, or that next in rear thereof in the pipe K isopened. It will be seen, therefore, that the inlet-valve mechanismbelonging to the tank next in advance of the tank to remain empty willhave the same effect to empty said tank next in rear of the tank toremain empty as the usual actuating mechanism therefor. In other words,the liquid in the pipe K which is directed thereinto by the opening ofthe valve K belonging to the tank which has just been filled, will passthe outlet-float chamber, the valve of which is closed, and by reason ofthe adjacent or next rear valve 70 being open said liquid will bedirected to the floatchamber next in rear of the float-chamber belongingto the tank which is to remain empty and acts on the float therein todischarge the associated tank. If it is desired to cut out two or moretanks of the series, the valves 70 The modification of the track or wayfor the weight H described affords means for cutting out theintermediate tanks of a series. The

end tanks of the series may be similarly cut out by a slightmodification of the uninterrupted section of the inclined track. Forinstance, said part may be made of a plurality vof interchangeablesections, whereby the sec- ICC tions having thereon the elbows by whichthe weight is directed to and from the race, respectively, may when itis desired to cut out either end tank be connected with the nextadjacent float-chamber. The opposite ends of the pipe K are connected bya pipe K whereby communication is afforded between the outlet-floatchamber of tank N0. 4 of the series and the inlet-float chamber of thetank No. 1 when tank No. 5 of said series is cut out. In this event thevalve 7c in the pipe K associated with said outlet-valve chamber of tankNo. 5 of the series is closed and the adjacent valve 7a is opened, so asto open, communication through the left end of the pipe K and throughpipe K to said outletvalve chamber to tank N0. 4.

Many changes may be made in the details of the construction here' shownother than those specifically mentioned without departing from thespirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to such details,except as hereinafter made the subject of specific claims. For instance,instead of using a ball to actuate the valve mechanism I may employ abody of liquid and modify the coacting parts to correspond with suchchange in the character of the weight. In plants where large volumes ofwater must be passed other and different forms of inlet and outletvalves may be employed and actuated by the weight through other forms ofmechanism. Moreover, the invention, as hereinbefore suggested, may beadapted to empty a series of tanks which are filled through other meansthan herein shown.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination with a series of tanks orcompartments and the valve mechanisms therefor, of a movable partadapted to be transferred from one mechanism to the others to severallyactuate the valves.

2. The combination with a series of tanks or compartments and the valvemechanisms thereof, of a movable part adapted to be transferred from onemechanism to the others to severally actuate the valves, and means forcutting out the valve mechanism of one of said tanks from the operativeseries.

3. Means for successively actuating the valve mechanisms of a series offluid tanks or compartments consisting of a traveling weight whichtravels in a race or track, the parts of which lead, respectively, toand from said valve mechanisms,

4. Means for successively actuating the inlet and outlet valvemechanisms of a series of fluid tanksor compartments consisting of atraveling weight which travels in a race or track, the parts of whichlead, respectively, to and from the individual mechanisms of one set ofvalves, whereby said valve mechanisms are severally actuated and theother sets of valve mechanisms being severally actuated through themedium of the initially-actuated valve mechanisms.

5. Means for successively actuating the valve mechanisms of a series offluid tanks or compartments consisting of a traveling weight whichtravels in a track or race, the parts of which lead, respectively, toand from said valve mechanisms, said weight being carried by gravityfrom one valve mechanism to the other, and, after actuating eachmechanism, being elevated by the action of the liquid which the valvecontrols to the level of the part of the race which directs it to thenext succeeding valve mechanism.

6. Means for successively actuating the valve mechanisms of a series offluid tanks or compartments consistingofatravelingweight which travelsin a track or race, the parts of which lead, respectively, to and fromsaid Valve mechanisms, and means for directing said weight past one ormore of the mechanisms without actuating the same.

7. The combination with a plurality of tanks, of means for controllingthe charging and discharging thereof comprising a traveling weight whichacts successively on the valve mechanisms of said tanks. l

8. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and theinlet-valves therefor, of a weight, common to all and acting toseverally open said valves, and a float mechanism associated with eachtank and operated by the liquid in said tank to close its associatedvalve.

9. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and theinlet-valve mechanisms therefor, of a weight, common to all and, actingto severally open said valves, and a float mechanism associated witheach tank and operated by the liquid in said tank to close itsassociated valve and to direct the weight to the next succeeding valvemechanism.

10. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments andthevalve mechanisms, of a weight, common to all and, acting to severallyopen said valves, a float associated with each valve mechanism forclosing its valve, a chamber containing said float, a lever connectedwith each valve mechanism and extending into its associatedfloat-chamber, inclined track-sections extending between said chambersto direct the weight to the parts of said levers within the chambers todepress the levers to open the valves, said weight dropping off eachlever when the latter is depressed upon the adjacent float, and beinglifted by said float to direct it to the next succeeding float-chamber.

11. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments andthe.valve mechanisms therefor, of a weight common to all and, acting toseverally open said valves, a float associated with each valve mechanismfor closing its valve, a chamber containing said float, a leverconnected with each valve mechanism and extending into its associatedfloat-chamber,inclined track-sections extending between and opening intothe opposite sides of said chambers to direct the weight to the parts ofthe levers within said chambers to depress the levers to open saidvalves, a partition in the upper part of each chamber to hold the weightengaged with the lever until the lever is depressed, said weight, whenthe lever is depressed, dropping off the lever upon the adjacent float,and being lifted by said fioat to direct it to the next succeedingfloat-chamber.

12. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a movable partadapted to be transferred from one mechanism to the others to severallyactuate the mechanisms of the inlet-valves, the outletvalve mechanismsbeing connected with the inlet-valve mechanisms in a manner to beactuated upon the actuation of the inlet-valves.

13. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a movable partadapted to be transferred from one mechanism to the others to severallyactuate the mechanisms of the inlet-valves, the inlet-valve mechanismsbeing connected with the mechanisms of the outlet-valves whereby theactuation of either of the inlet-valves serves to open one of theoutlet-valves belonging to a tank in rear of the tank to which theaforesaid inlet-valve belongs.

14. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a movable partadapted to be transferred from one mechanism to the others to severallyactuate said inlet-valve mechanisms, and connections between said inletand outlet valve mechanisms, whereby the actuation of one of saidinlet-valve mechanisms to close its valve will operate to open theoutlet-valve of one of the tanks or compartments previously filled, saidconnections being such that each inlet-valve mechanism may severallyactuate more than one outlet-valve.

15. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments, and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a weight, common toall and, acting to severally open the inlet-valves, a float mechanismassociated with each tank and operated by the liquid in said tank toclose its associated inlet-valve,and connections between said inlet andoutlet valve mechanisms whereby the closing of either of theinlet-valves may act to open one ofthe outlet-valves.

16. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a weight, common toall and, acting to severally open the inlet-valves, a fioat mechanismassociated with each tank and operated by the liquid in said tank toclose its associated inlet-valve and to direct the weight toward thenext inlet-valve mechanism, and connections between said inlet andoutlet valve mechanisms, whereby the closing of either of theinlet-valves acts to open one of the outlet-valves.

17. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of gravity-operatedlevers connected with said inlet-valves, a weight common to and adaptedto depress all of said levers to open the valves, a float mechanismassociated with each tank and operated by the liquid in said tank toclose said inlet-valve, a shifting weight for each lever to hold thesame in either of its positions, and connections between said levers andoutlet-valve mechanisms whereby the closing of either of theinlet-valves acts to open the outlet-valve of one of the tankspreviously filled.

18. The combination with a series of tanks or compartments, and thecontrolling-valves and valve mechanisms therefor, of means, common toand, constructed to severally actuate the mechanisms of theinlet-valves, means for isolating one or more of the tanks from theseries, and connections between the inlet and outlet valve mechanisms,whereby the closing of either of the inlet-valves acts to open one ofthe outlet-valves, the connections being such that each inlet-valvemechanism may severally actuate more than one outlet-valve.

19. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, said inlet-valvemechanisms being actuated by a weight common to all said valves, a trackor way for said weight to carry the same to and from the severalinlet-valve mechanisms, means for carrying the weight past one or moreof said mechanisms without actuating the same, and connections betweensaid inlet and outlet valve mechanisms whereby the closing of either ofthe inlet-valves acts to open one of the outlet-valves, the connectionsbeing such that each inlet-valve mechanism may severally actuate 'morethan one outlet-valve.

20. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments,'and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a traveling weightfor severally actuating said inlet-valve mechanisms, said weight beingcarried by gravity from one inlet mechanism to the other, and, afteractuating each mechanism, being elevated by the action of the liquidwhich the valve controls and directed to the next inlet mechanism, andconnections between the inlet and outlet valve mechan= isms wherebyactuation of each of the inlet valve mechanisms serves to open one ofthe outlet-valves,

21. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments, and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a traveling weightfor severally actuating said inlet-valve mechanisms, a track for saidweight consistingof a series of track-sections inclined to thehorizontal and extending from one inlet -valve mechanism to the other,means for lifting the weight from the lower end of each track-section tothe higher end of the next adjacent section, and connections between theinlet and outlet valve mechanisms whereby actuation of each of theinletvalve mechanisms serves to open one of the outlet-valves.

22. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments, and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, of a traveling Weightfor severally actuating said inlet-valve mechanisms, a track for saidweight consisting of a plurality of track-sections extending from oneinlet-valve mechanism to the other and inclined to the horizontal, afloat actuated by the liquid which the valve controls for lifting theweight from the lower end of each track-section to the higher end of thenext adjacent section, and connections between the inlet and outletvalve mechanisms whereby actuation of each of the inlet-valve mechanismsserves to open one of the outlet-valves.

23. The combination with a plurality of tanks or compartments, and thecontrollingvalves and valve mechanisms therefor, the inlet-valvemechanisms embracing rigid levers which are pivoted between their endsand with the inner ends of which the inletvalves are connected, of atraveling weight adapted to successively depress the outer ends of thelevers, and connections between the inlet and outlet valve mechanisms soconstructed that when either of the inlet-valves is closed one of theoutlet-valves is opened.

24. The combination with a series of tanks or compartments and the valvemechanisms therefor, of a weight, common to all and, act ing toseverally open said valves, a float as sociated with each valvemechanism for closing its valve, a chamber containing said fio'at, alever connected with each valve mechanism and extending into itsassociated floatchamber, and inclined track-sections extending betweenand detachably connected with said chambers, said weight being directedby said track-sections from one chamber to the other, and acting uponthe levers in said chambers to open the Valves, and the chambers beingprovided in their upper ends with upwardly-openingnotches to permit atracksection to be extended between two alternate chambers.

25. The combination with a plurality of liquid tanks or compartments andthe inlet and outlet controlling valves therefor, of means for actuatingthe inlet-valves to open and close the same, and a separate floatmechanism for controlling each outlet-valve, one of said floatmechanisms being actuated upon the closing of each inlet-valve.

26. The combination with a plurality of liquid tanks or compartments andthe inlet and outlet controlling valves therefor, of means for actuatingthe inlet-valves to open and close the same, a separate float foropening each of the outlet-valves, a float-chamber for each float, andmeans operated by the actuating devices of each of the inlet-valves fordirecting liquid from one of the tanks previously filled to one of saidfloat-chambers to open its associated outlet-valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of December, A.D. 1900.

WILLIAM S. SHIELDS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, TAYLOR E. BROWN.

